Dear Editor:
Re: Building a better Canada.

Forget what you've read in the mainstream papers or have seen on the national news: we're here to tell you there are plenty of good people on both sides of the barricades at Caledonia. A mere handful of knuckleheads are getting most of the attention and, while that may feed the media beast, it does nothing to get to the truth of this critically important matter.

In June 2006, delegates from around the world will be in Vancouver for the United Nations' World Urban Forum to discuss the future of the world's cities and urban environments, and the role of art, culture, music and dance in shaping and defining our cities and our urban experiences will be at the centre of the discussion.

Earth: The World Urban Festival is the UNESCO-designated official arts and culture festival of the World Urban Forum.

The Urban Shaman Gallery has developed over the years as a leader in promoting Aboriginal contemporary art in Winnipeg. Since opening its doors to the community in 1996, the not-for-profit gallery has been committed to meeting the needs of Aboriginal artists in all disciplines through exhibitions, workshops, residencies and curatorial initiatives.

At the same time, they are dedicated to maintaining a strong relationship with the Aboriginal arts community and communities at large and they have done this through showcasing some of the local talent.

Organizers of the 2006 North American Indigenous Games are planning to host 10,000 Aboriginal athletes from Canada and the United States who will compete in Denver, Colorado from July 2 to 9. Events will include rifle shooting, basketball, archery, Tae Kwon Do, boxing, canoeing, swimming, soccer, badminton, baseball, volleyball, golf, softball, athletics, wrestling and field lacrosse.

Alberta at the Smithsonian will mark the first time in history a Canadian province will be featured at the 40th annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C.

The event will take place from June 30 to July 11 with more than 150 of Alberta's musicians, storytellers, cooks, craftspeople, occupational specialists and cultural experts showcasing Alberta's diversity and culture, covering an area of five blocks.

Wing fans are carried by both men and women, traditional, grass or jingle dress dancers. They are typically made from the feathers of a goose and often with feathers all from the same wing. The longest is laid first and then the next longest over top, and so on. Some dancers decorate with beading at the handle.

Round sleigh bells are popular with men's traditional dancers. Casted brass was the preference of old, but nickel-plated bells are now most affordable. The bells are laced onto strap leather.

Aboriginal dance artists from across the globe will be gathering in Toronto and Brantford this summer to take part in Living Ritual: World Indigenous Dance Festival, a new event being launched by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre.

The festival will take place July 14 to 16. The first day will feature presentations, workshops and performances held at the Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford.

Even the stage crew behind the scenes at the Miss Indian World 2006 contest wanted Canada's Violet John to win. On April 28, at the Gathering of Nations Powwow held in Albequerque, New Mexico, she did.

"Backstage during the talent part of the pageant, they noticed how polite my mom, Rosa, and I were," recalled 21-year-old John. "We were really quiet-maybe just a little overwhelmed. There were only two of us together, while some girls had a pack of six or more chaperones."

Montreal's First Peoples' Festival 2006, organized by Land InSights/ Terre En Vues, will spotlight Aboriginal culture through an impressive variety of art exhibits, films and literary events. It will take place in two separate parts this year.

The festival will first hold its visual arts segment from May 25 to June 8 followed by the outdoor segment on June 21 to 25.

This year's new president is Alanis Obomsawin, who is stepping in after the passing of Myra Cree last fall. Cree had been Land InSights' board president since the founding of the organization in 1988.